As this beautiful birth unfolds, I will share some thoughts. The story will wait, however, until mom writes her own story.

NOTE: The birth pictures are extremely graphic. Amazingly so.

Danielle and Craig. Danielle depended on Craig throughout labor and the birth... they were so wonderful to witness.

Danielle had a great deal of back pain and loved having pressure on each side of her spine. The baby was anterior when I did vaginal exams, so the pain was a mystery (probably a rotating/wiggling head).

I love this picture! Danielle is 5 feet even, so floated in a very small amount of water as well as was able to stretch out in the Aqua Doula. I "saw" this picture before taking it. She looks so beautiful - high!

Sipping soup.

Craig "with" Danielle. During the times that Danielle wasn't (physically) touched, she was adoringly touched.

We watched the baby's head eeking out slowly. I love this picture because her labia look like a vessel (which it is!) pouring life's liquid (which it is!).

As these photos unfold, watch how the labia "tightens" around the head. Mom did not have any perineal tears and the only touching that was done was by mom herself. During the birth, she said she was afraid of tearing, so Donna (my apprentice) encouraged her to touch when she needed to, that her body would guide her. Look! It did!

In labor-land... high, high, high!

(The photos are in chronological order... she moved around at the beginning of pushing, but eventually settled on hands and knees.)

Watch as you can "see" the head through the labia.

During a push.

Inbetween pushes... note how the head recedes somewhat.

Curls!

See the bubble that popped? How cool is that?

See how the labia is now wrapped around the baby's head? Our bodies are so great.

The birth of the head.

After this photo, the baby tried to breathe and Donna was there to catch since dad didn't want to (in the moment). As a mentor, it is my responsibility to assist, not photograph, so the next photos come after the birth.

She's still so high!

The new mom and dad.

Zoey Irene, 6 pounds 6 ounces... exactly what both of her parents weighed when they were born!

Using the cord bander - it puts a tiny rubber band on the umbilical stump. Much more comfortable than the standard plastic clamps.

It's an interesting experience, being a photographing midwife. I never feel pulled, but am very clear about my lines... though, as with this birth, wish I could have gotten the whole baby coming out. It's the way it goes sometimes, right?

The dad said there were times my taking pics was annoying (I use a flash), but mom said she never even noticed. On the heels of dad saying it was annoying, he also said he is thrilled there are pictures now... they have them... and that is priceless.

I don't think there are many photo essays that demonstrate any better than these the maneuvering the labia does to allow for the baby's head to be born. Looking at first like there is no way a head can come out without tearing and then witnessing the beauty of the body - Danielle's body (a representation of women's bodies!) - as her labia spreads and opens, embracing the baby's head, her body's perfection witnessed by us all.

I am so, so glad you all "see" what I saw in the photos. No words can thank Danielle for her lack of modesty in allowing me to share these pictures.

Amazing. However, I don't consider it a birth high so much for me. This mom might. It's more like concentration an athlete might have to utilize/store/apply energy where and when needed. I usually think of contractions like hills I must climb, and I need to reach the peak and it will get easier once at the peak. In between, as I get closer to birth, I just relax in between which is not a high but a relief and a time to store energy for the next one. Of course, when I'm out of control (like I was a bit last birth) I might have a desperate fear look on my face. However, in at least 4 of six of the births, I had no fear only concentration and relaxing to get through it. I do somehow enjoy the process and initially have elation and nerves. Wonder if that momma would say it's a high?

I love these birth photos! Fantastic job to you Barb for the photography, to the mom for allowing you to photograph her amazing birth, to the dad for being such a wonderful supportive part of the birth! Just amazing!

She was 6lbs 6oz and 19 inches.the exact same as my husband and I!i would say that i was high, still coherent for sure, but the endorphin rush was really intense.i will be posting a birth story on my blog in the next week or so.thanks for the comment everyone, they make my day!~danielle~

What a beautiful family. Life, love, earth, nature and art all tangled up.This fall in the "proof some things are right with the world" category. Thank for the uplift.Congratulations, health, and much joy to the new parents.

WOW. I am captivated by the step-by-step pics of the crowning. Just breathtaking. It seems silly and redundant for me to say that it looks like her body was made for this....because of course it is! But no matter how many times I see a baby come out of a vagina, it still amazes me. Wow wow wow. Please thank the parents for allowing you to share these incredible photos with us.

I have no photos of my own labor, but I'm sure I looked exactly like this mom did. "In the zone." My mind wasn't even attached to my body...it was floating around in a corner watching while my body gave birth all on its own.

This will be my first homebirth, thank you so much for allowing these photos to be taken, I have never seen anything more naterual or harmonious, hopefully my 2 eldest dd will think the same thing, as they will be attending the birth (if their not at school).

That was the weirdest thing! I don't know what happened, but now have to go check the other posts and see what happened to those. Thank you for pointing it out! Good thing I have each birth's pics set aside in order!

Well done to all 3 of you. I have 2 beautiful children and have never seen childbirth so close up or in such wonderful detail! It makes me feel proud to be a mum and at ease with the whole natural process. These are wonderful pictures that you both should feel proud of!

I just got referred to these wonderful birth photos by Kya Rose,an ld online friend in the natural birthing world. (and so is barb.) gloriously and exhilaratingly inspiring, yes...how strong you are Danielle! and now generous of you to share these most personal images to strengthen other women and their families...thank you thank you. hope you, your partner, and your beautiful child ar doing well.

I would like to thank you for publishing these photos, and a huge thanks to the mother for allowing her birth to be photographed and published.

I was planning a HBAC for April/May and I drew encouragement and inspiration from this post. I have it saved in my bloglines and I looked at it at least once a week for a few months leading up to the birth. After having a traumatic c/s I had trouble believing babies really do come out of vaginas. I couldn't visualise myself actually birthing a baby naturally and that really bothered me. I wanted, needed, to be able to see it happen in my mind. This blog post became almost a form of meditation for me to persuade my brain that my baby could come out of my vagina.

I had an amazing unhindered water homebirth. My baby was indeed born vaginally and it was the single greatest day of my life. My baby son is now 3 months old, and my first son witnessed his little brother's birth. Thank you for helping me to believe in my body. xx

Tanja: What a beautiful, kind comment. I sent it directly to the mom in the photos so she would be sure to see it. I am SO happy for your HBAC! Thank you so much for taking a moment to let us know your experience. Congratulations!

I know this was posted a long time ago but I just came across your website and I must say this is breathtaking! Mother of 3, last birth not being what anyone would imagine! Then to top it off my son spent 29 days in the NICU where the last 8 days was for "observarion" <<cough cough>> BS!!!! When you have insurace the docs will milk it for all they can! Congrats mama for being such an amazing woman and showing us how it's really done!!!

This is so moving. I love actually seeing what our bodies can do. You really can't get the full picture when it's happening to you. I am considering a midwife and water birth for my 2nd and this just may have solidified it for me.

Very late commenting on this as I have just discovered your blog. Me and my husband are starting trying to conceive and these pictures are truly fascinating to look at, a great amount of thanks to the parents for allowing us to see these powerful photos.

At the risk of sounding like a dunce, the liquid in the first photo, is this the waters breaking? The same for the photo of baby's head being born. Also, is it unusual for a baby to look so clean when being born, I know the depiction is often one of the baby being covered in blood, vernix and such.